New Post
Search
Help[Facts] Aravis
In "The Horse and His Boy" (part of the Chronicles of Narnia), C.S. Lewis' heroine is called Aravis. Does anyone know anything about the name, either it's origin, ethnic background, etc.?
1
Replies
The Aravis mystery unravelled
In classical Greek, Aravis (Áñáâßò) is female for Arab.
Curiously enough, "Aravis" in contemporary Greek is used to denote a rustique (not when you are on the receiving end!) short-barreled rifle used by Arabs.
In classical Greek, Aravis (Áñáâßò) is female for Arab.
Curiously enough, "Aravis" in contemporary Greek is used to denote a rustique (not when you are on the receiving end!) short-barreled rifle used by Arabs.
1
A-ha!
So, as with the name "Aslan", C.S. Lewis created another character's name from an actual word taken from a foreign language.
And, though the word is Greek, there's still the Arab connection for the Calormenes!
Oh, and Aravis is aptly named, after the short-barreled rifle. Coz in the story she shoots off comments like bullets.
-- Nanaea
So, as with the name "Aslan", C.S. Lewis created another character's name from an actual word taken from a foreign language.
And, though the word is Greek, there's still the Arab connection for the Calormenes!
Oh, and Aravis is aptly named, after the short-barreled rifle. Coz in the story she shoots off comments like bullets.
-- Nanaea
1
Apparently, "Aravis" is a name entirely invented by C.S. Lewis. I did find an interesting website which offers a criticism of what the writer perceives as C.S. Lewis' portrayal of the Middle East in his Narnia stories. The writer points out that the names of the Calormenes (the race to which Aravis belongs) all have mock Arabic names, and the Calormenes don't compare favorably with the Narnians (who supposedly symbolize the British, or Western civilization).
The funny thing is (which the writer of this piece doesn't mention) is that Aslan (the Lion/Christ symbol first encountered in Narnia/The West?) means "lion" in Turkish.
http://www.physicsroom.org.nz/log/archive/2arab.htm
-- Nanaea
The funny thing is (which the writer of this piece doesn't mention) is that Aslan (the Lion/Christ symbol first encountered in Narnia/The West?) means "lion" in Turkish.
http://www.physicsroom.org.nz/log/archive/2arab.htm
-- Nanaea
1
Can't nail the poor old boy for being ethnocentric - he'd have been atypical indeed if he wasn't.
Aravis doesn't sound Arab to me - I've always seen it as fake Latin, altar + strength.
Great books, though.
Aravis doesn't sound Arab to me - I've always seen it as fake Latin, altar + strength.
Great books, though.
1
You're right -- Aravis doesn't sound Arabic to me, either, and doesn't quite fit in with all the other Calormene names. Well, Aravis, herself, didn't quite fit in with most folks, either, did she? :)
I think *The Horse and His Boy* is my favorite of the Narnia books. Not that I've read that many, mind you. In fact, I think that maybe I've only read *The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe* all the way through, besides *The Horse...*.
I will agree with you that they are great books. And that's quite a compliment to C.S. Lewis, coming from a Satanist such as myself. ;)
-- Nanaea
I think *The Horse and His Boy* is my favorite of the Narnia books. Not that I've read that many, mind you. In fact, I think that maybe I've only read *The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe* all the way through, besides *The Horse...*.
I will agree with you that they are great books. And that's quite a compliment to C.S. Lewis, coming from a Satanist such as myself. ;)
-- Nanaea
1
I love the name Aravis. Knowing that Lewis was a very religious man, I am sure that it has some sort of Biblical meaning, or maybe like JRR Tolkien, he invented his own language; each piece of the name having different meanings, then blending them all together.
I plan on naming my child Aravis for the wonderful role she plays in my favorite book series.
I plan on naming my child Aravis for the wonderful role she plays in my favorite book series.
1
I am pregnant and also really like the name Aravis and have found no meanings listed anywhere. Have you found anything yet? Oddly enough Shasta is listed in some places.
1